Better Eclipse starts big campaign in style

Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) launched the biggest campaign of his career in style when he accounted for several talented harness racing rivals in the Our Maestro Free For All at Melton on Saturday night.

Greg Sugars latched onto the back of Hurricane Harley when that horse made a three wide move with a lap to travel and Better Eclipse assumed the role outside the leader Yambukian for the final 900 metres of the race.

Better Eclipse ($5) joined Yambukian upon straightening before surging to the lead half way down the home straight and had sufficient in reserve to hold off Hurricane Harley and Yambukian in a slick 26.4 last quarter.

Terrific Return!

Better Eclipse gets the prize in his first start back in the Waste Sense Our Maestro Free For All after his NZ Campaign earlier in the year.

That’s a double tonight for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars pic.twitter.com/cedadN5VFv

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 5, 2023

Sugars was suitably happy with the performance of his stable star who hasn’t been seen since returning from a New Zealand campaign in April.

“His work at home has been super and he was pretty close to the mark tonight and he will probably sharpen up with the run,” Sugars said.

“I was about to take off approaching the bell but when Hurricane Harley went in front of me I thought I’d just tag him into it,” he said.

Sugars said the horse had thrived from a short spell in the paddock following the trip to New Zealand.

“He had a hectic season as a four-year-old so he needed a break when he came home from New Zealand and he has come back better for it,” he said.

Sugars outlined the son of Betterthancheddar’s immediate racing itinerary for the remainder of the year.

“He’ll go to Sydney for the Len Smith Mile and then onto the Victoria Cup and all going well we will head up north for the Inter Dominion with him,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne for Harnesslink